A Note from Matthew VanBesien – June 2018

As we wrap up our fiscal year on June 30th, I want to extend a special thank you for the important part you play in supporting UMS. I have been so touched by the incredible commitment and passion our wonderful community has expressed over the past year. What you have helped to create here in Ann Arbor is extraordinary.

As I reflect on this past year with nearly 90 mainstage performances, I’m blown away by the breadth and scope of all that has happened at UMS this season — from our second major residency with the New York Philharmonic to Bubble Schmeisis, an incredibly unique and entertaining one-man show at the Schvitz in Detroit, as well as the inaugural No Safety Net theater series.

Equally important were 300 education and community engagement events that captivated audiences off-the-stage — from master classes with visiting artists and workshops for K-12 students to a host of activities and conversations around important social issues. We continue to advance our commitment towards uncommon and engaging experiences.

In late April it was a great pleasure to announce the 2018-19 UMS Season. Once again our team has put together a wonderfully vibrant season filled with performances that celebrate tradition, defy convention, and challenge perspectives — all while reflecting the artistic excellence that is the core of UMS.

Our 140th season opens on Friday, September 21 with a presentation of Stanley Kubrick’s classic 2001: A Space Odyssey at Hill Auditorium, featuring the score performed live by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The UMS team is working with the College of Engineering, our partners in this presentation, to plan a series of related activities to further animate this community event. Stay tuned!

UMS distinguishes itself not just by who we bring to the stage, but in how we connect artists from around the world with our audiences — always stretching to find the richest intersections of artistic content with our audiences and local communities.

We’re looking forward to another dynamic and vibrant UMS season — one that promises unexpected moments of joy, inspiration, and discovery, as well as nights in the theater that just might change you. We hope you join us.